Cotton-picker.



G. E. LEAPHART.

OOT'I'QN PIOKER. AP PLIOA'I'IOH TILED AUG. 22, 1910.

Patented May 23, 1911.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLTON EUGENE LEAPHABT, 0F LEXING'lOIN, SOUTH CAROLINA.

COTTON-PICKERJ To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Cnamxrox E. Lear HART, a citizen of the United States, re iding at- Lexington. county of Lexington, and State of South Carolina, have invented certain .new and. useful Improvements in (lotton-Pickers, ofwvhich the following is a specification.

My invention relates. to cotton pickers, that isto. devices for picking the cotton from the bolls and-depositing the same in a sack, or receptacle.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved cotton picking device adapted to he carried on the back of a person and which will operate semi-automatically to pick'the cotton from the bolls and deposit the same in a detachable receptacle attached to the same.

A further object of my invention is to provide a device as mentioned in which the operative parts or gearing shall be protected from the cotton as it passes through the machine. to the end that the cotton tiher shall not be injured and the machine shall not he come clogged.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

\Vith these objects in view my invention consists generally in a casing provided with means for securing the same upon the back of a person, a receptacle detachably secured to the casing. a conduit extending through the easing into said receptacle. a fan for creating a strong current of air through said conduit, means for driving the fan and a flexible suctionhose and nozzle extending from the inward end of the conduit.

, My invention further consists in a casing provided with means for securing the same to a back of a person, a conduit, fan and suction hose as mentioned, an arm on said casing adapted to extend forwardly beneath onearm of the operator. a hand wheel on the end of said arm in position to be easily operated by the person and means connecting said wheel and fan whereby turning of the former will operate the latter.

My invention further consists in various details of construction and arrangements of parts all as will be fully described. here inat'ter and particularly pointed out in the claim.

My invention will be more readily understood by reference to the accompanying Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 22, 1910. Serial No. 578,364.

tially the line y-y of Fig. 3, and Fight; is

a vertical transverse section of a modified form of the device.

Referring now to the drmvings 1 indi-' rates the casingwhich is preferably a hollow rectangular member, and 2, 2, indicate straps for securing thesame'to the backof the operator by passing under the arms and Patented May 23, 1911.

drawings forming a part of this specificaover the shoulders. 'Detachably secured tothebottom ot' the casing 1 is a sack or receptacle 3. This may be secured'to thecas- I ing in any desired manner but I have illustrated the sack as provided with a reinforcing band i havin; eyes 5 to engage buttons 6 on the lower edge of the casing.

Extending'through the casing 1 is a conduit 7. This comprises a fan casing 8 and inlet and outlet portions 9 and 1.0 respectively which are preferably tangential to the casing 54 and at right angles to each other in order that the inlet portion 9 may extend through the side of the casing and the outlet 10 through the bottom thereof.

11 indicates a rotary fan mounted upon a transverse shaft 12 having hearings in the sides of the casing 8. One end of the shaft 12 is provided with a beveled gear 13 within the casing 1.

Fixed to the side of the casing it and extended forwardly therefrom is an arm 14. This is adapted to extend beneath one arm of the operator as shown in Fi 1. and upon its outer end is mounted a hand wheel [5 provided with a crank handle it) for turning the same. The wheel 15 yu'eferably comprises a beveled gear as illustrated. Extending longitudinally of the arm '14 is a shaft 17 mounted in bearings 18. ward end of the shaft 18 is provided with a beveled gear 1!) meshing with the gear-.15. and the rear end of the shaft is provided with a beveled gear 20.

21 indicates a horizontal shaft mounted The torin bearings 22 in the casing 1 and having with the gear 20. The opposite end of the shaft 21 is provided with a beveled gear 24 meshing with the gear 18 on the fan shaft 12. It is obvious that by turning the hand a Wheel 15 the fan will be rotated and a strong draft created through the conduit 7 in the y direction of the arrows.

Secured to the outerend of the conduit 7 is a flexible suction hose 25 terminating in a flared nozzle26. In using the device theoperator-turns the Wheel with one hand and grasping the nozzle 26 in the other hand presents the same to the open bolls. The suction created by the fan 11 draws the cotton from the boll and deposits it in the receptacle 3. As soon as thereceptaele is full it may be removed add an empty one placed in position. If desired a motor may be provided for operating the fan and in Fig. 5 I have illustrated the device so equipped. 27 indicates a horizontal partition in.the casing 1 upon which is mounted an electric motor 28, a battery 29 and a bracket 30. The bracket 30 has bearings for the motor shaft 31 and a vertical shaft 32 which are provided with intermeshing beveled gears 33 and 84: re-

spectively. The lower end of the shaft32 'tion nozzle to the bolls.

is provided with a gear 35 meshing with the gear 13. It is obvious that inasmuch as the device. is motor driven, the operator will have both hands free for directing the sucform two suction hose 25 may be provided. Having described my invention what. I

, claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

A cotton picker comprising a casing and means for sepuring the same to the back of an oierator, incombination with a suction devi e witlrin said casing, a flexible suction hose extending from said device, an arm on said casing adapted to extend forwardly beneath the arm of the operator, a hand Wheel on the end of said forwardly extending arm and means operatively connecting said Wheel Therefore in this 

